Tool for freeing frozen hydraulic valve lifters from their cylinders



Oct. 8, -1957 c. L R. sANDELL TooL FoR FREEING FROZEN HYDRAULIC VALVE LIFTERS FROM THEIR CYLINDERS Filed March 22, 1955 INVENTOR' v ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O TOOL FOR FREEING FROZEN HYDRAULIC VALVE LIFTERS FROM THEIR CYLINDERS Carlos L. R. Sandell, San Diego, Calif.

Application March 22, 1955, Serial No. 495,915

1 Claim. (Cl. 29-255) 'This invention relates to a tool designed for releasing or freeing frozen hydraulic valve lifters from their cylinders, eliminating the necessity of soaking the lifters and cylinders in a gum dissolving solution for a length of time and then working the plungers within their cylinders until freed.

An important object of the invention is to provide a tool in which a hydraulic valve cylinder and valve lifter plunger stuck therein may be inserted and held in such a Way that the tool may be struck against a stationary object to jar the plunger loose from the cylinder wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for removably holding the valve cylinder and lifter in position within the tool to insure the lifter and cylinder in which the lifter is mounted receiving the entire impact of the blow as 'a result of striking the hammer-like tool against a stationary object.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a tool constructed in accordance with the invention, the head of the tool being shown in vertical section.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the head of the tool.

Figure 3 is a fragmental plan view of the tool.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the tool comprises a head indicated generally by the reference character 5, the head being mounted on one end of the handle 6, much in the same manner as a hammer.

As clearly shown by the drawing, the head is provided with a bore 7 extending inwardly from one end thereof, the bore being provided with a decided enlarged portion 8 forming a shoulder 9 at a point substantially midway of the hollow head.

The head is provided with openings that extend inwardly from the side wall thereof, the openings being indicated by the reference character 9'. These openings are provided to receive the right angled ends 10 ofthe spring yoke 11 which bridges over one end of the head from the spring yoke is the shank 12 which is threaded 2,808,641 Patented Oct. 8, 1957 ice 2 to receive the nut 13 that is knurled so that it may be effectively operated by a person positioning a valve lifting unit within the tool.

A head 14 is provided on the end of the shank 12 and provides a stop for the cap 15 that is loosely mounted on the shank 12, the cap 15 having an annular flange 16 that rests on the end of the hydraulic valve lifter cylinder positioned within the tool.

As better shown by Figure l of the drawing, the nut 13 is moved to .a position in conta-ct with the cap 15 to exert pressure thereon and force the cap 15 into close contact with the hydraulic valve lifter cylinder, which in the present showing is indicated by the reference character A. In the present showing, the hydraulic valve lifter piston is indicated by the reference character B, and is the element which frequently becomes frozen within its cylinder, due to the collection of sludge -or gum between the valve lifter piston .and its cylinder wall. The construction of the tool is such that when the hydraulic valve lifter cylinder A is positioned within the head 5, the inner end of the hydraulic valve lifter cylinder Will rest on the shoulder 9, and the nut 15 is rotated to exert pressure against the hydraulic valve lifter cylinder, securing the hydraulic valve lifter cylinder together with its valve lifter piston, within the bore of the tool head.

With the hydraulic valve lifter cylinder and valve lifter piston in this position, the tool is now struck against a stationary object with the end C of the tool, the sudden jarring caused by striking the tool Iagainst a stationary object, causing the valve lifter piston to become dislodged from the valve lifter cylinder, whereupon the surfaces thereof may be readily cleaned to dislodge any gum or material which may cause the freezing of the valve lifter piston within its cylinder.

By releasing the nut 13, the hydraulic valve lifter cylinder together with its valve lifter piston may -be removed frorn the tool for repositioning within the engine block.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A tool for freeing frozen hydraulic valve lifter pistons from their cylinders comprising a head and a handle, said head having therein a bore and a connecting counterbore forming therebetween a shoulder and means for holding a valve lifter within said head with the end of the cylinder abutting said shoulder and the piston facing toward the bore whereby said piston is freed from said cylinder by impact when one end of said tool is struck against a stationary object.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,087,092 Stingle Feb. 10, 1914 1,504,037 Furman et al Aug. 5, 1924 2,392,549 Rice Jan. 9, 1946 2,451,217 Heinrich Oct. l2, 1948 2,457,519 Bemel Dec. 28, 1948 2,776,689 Falzone Jan. 8, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 592,129 Great Britain Sept. 9, 1947 

